Chief Development & Communications Officer
About the role
The CDCO will help articulate and advance the enterprise-capital case for ICA’s next decade, moving beyond an additive story of more products, more entrepreneurs, or broader geography to a multiplication story about how adequate, flexible, and sustained capitalization can fundamentally change the organization's capabilities, economics, durability, and impact.
Responsibilities
Develop and lead an integrated, multi-year development strategy aligned with ICA’s strategic direction and next chapter of impact
In partnership with the CEO and Board, build a compelling “multiplication” narrative, grounded in organizational strategy and financials, that articulates how adequate capitalization changes the organization's capabilities, economics, durability, and impact over the next decade, rather than simply funding incremental growth
Translate ICA’s organizational strategy into a compelling enterprise-capital investment thesis that demonstrates how capitalization can multiply organizational capacity, financial sustainability, reach, and impact
Develop a diversified fundraising portfolio encompassing major gifts, individual philanthropy, institutional funders, foundations, corporate and strategic partnerships, campaigns, and other sources of long-term capital
Establish fundraising goals, strategies, priorities, metrics, and accountability mechanisms that balance near-term revenue generation with long-term market development
Design and manage a rigorous pipeline and capitalization campaign, including case development, prospect identification, relationship mapping, cultivation strategy, leadership engagement, and campaign infrastructure
Partner closely with the CEO, executive leadership and board to structure gift levels, campaign phasing (quiet and public phases), and board/leadership engagement in solicitation
Build and manage a sophisticated major-gift and principal-gift pipeline, with particular attention to developing relationships with high-net-worth individuals and other significant philanthropic investors
Expand ICA’s external network and prospect universe through strategic list development, relationship mapping, research, introductions, events, thought leadership, and other market-building activities
Create a disciplined prospect lifecycle encompassing identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship
Cultivate and steward high-value relationships and serve as a senior external representative of ICA
Support the CEO, Board, and other organizational leaders with information, guidance and skill-building coaching to serve effectively as fundraisers and relationship-builders
Develop the systems, expectations, and leadership practices necessary to make fundraising an organization-wide responsibility rather than a function owned solely by the development team
Elevate funder-facing communications to a sustained communications effort purpose-built to reach high-net-worth individuals and institutional/philanthropic investors
Develop and execute a communications plan targeting key funder audiences, defining the channels, touchpoints, and cadence needed to build visibility and trust over time
Shape organizational storytelling and messaging that supports the enterprise capital narrative, ensuring consistency across donor communications, campaign materials, website, and public-facing channels
Identify opportunities to increase ICA’s visibility, credibility and influence across relevant philanthropic and entrepreneurial ecosystems through public relations, social media, and thought leadership that strengthens and amplifies the organization’s investment case
Provide direction and oversight to third-party grant writing and grants management partners
Ensure grant opportunities, proposals, and reporting reinforce the broader enterprise-capital narrative rather than functioning as isolated funding transactions
Strengthen grant pipelines, calendars, reporting systems, and prospect intelligence to increase internal efficiency and reduce requests from finance and programmatic teams
Ensure institutional communications consistently articulate ICA's broader strategic value and long-term impact
Serve as a strategic thought partner and trusted advisor to the CEO and executive leadership team
Bring an enterprise-wide perspective to decisions about organizational growth, investment, capacity, positioning, and external relationships
Work collaboratively with leadership and internal teams to build shared understanding, alignment and support
Advisory the CEO and Board on philanthropic market opportunities, donor trends, positioning, and fundraising strategy
Prepare the CEO and Board for high-value donor and funder engagements
Lead and develop staff and external partners responsible for development and communications
Foster a culture of strategic ownership, collaboration, accountability, and disciplined execution
Qualifications
- 10+ years of progressive, full-time experience in nonprofit development, fundraising, and/or communications, with demonstrated executive-level leadership
- Demonstrated success building and executing capital campaigns or enterprise-level fundraising strategies, including closing principal-and major-gift-level investments
- Experience developing a compelling case for investment or capital case statement for sophisticated funders, and translating organizational strategy into a long-term fundraising narrative
- Track record of cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding high-net-worth individuals and institutional funders
- Strong strategic thinker who can operate with significant autonomy while building infrastructure and systems from the ground up
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
- Experience with donor management/CRM platforms and building or upgrading fundraising infrastructure
- Demonstrated ability to lead and develop a team
- Ability to move fluidly between strategy and execution in a resource-constrained, entrepreneurial environment while building toward enterprise scale
Benefits
The salary range is $180,000 - $220,000, DOE, and also includes a discretionary bonus paid annually based on org and individual performance. ICA’s benefits include: 13 paid holidays per year; 3 weeks of annual paid vacation; 10 days of annual paid sick leave; at least 3 employer-identified mental health days; employer-paid health, dental, vision, life insurance and disability benefits; 50% employer-paid dependent health, dental, vision; employer-paid mental health counseling; 24-hour online virtual healthcare; 401(k) plan with matching; and mobile phone/Internet reimbursement.
How to Apply
Submit a resume and cover letter (combined into one PDF or Word doc) to: icajobs@ica.fund. Please do not apply via LinkedIn.